A heat wave is raging in Canada. In the town of Lytton, in the province of British Columbia, 49.5 degrees were measured last week – it has never been so hot in the North American country since records began! The extreme weather has consequences: the heat sparked dozens of forest fires. These practically razed Lytton to the ground on Thursday.
After heat wave in Canada: This is how quickly flames extinguish an entire place(01:19)
The inhabitants have to struggle with the high temperatures. Over a hundred people are already dead, and the heat just made them collapse. The Swiss emigrant Hanspeter Barth (76) is currently experiencing the mega heat wave first hand. “We have between 41 and 43 degrees here,” he says to Blick. Barth lives with his wife in a self-built chalet outside the small hamlet of Harrop – this is in the province of British Columbia, which has been badly hit by the heat.
Barth is worried. Because a forest fire is raging around 60 kilometers away, triggered by thunderstorms. Some people have already had to be evacuated there. “We see the smoke from here,” he says. His own house is surrounded by trees.
“It’s just too hot”
The family is fighting the heat with a few fans, and the shutters are also closed. But nothing helps. It is uncomfortably warm even in the early morning hours. “It’s just too hot – so hot that you could even fry fried eggs outside,” says Barth. “We sleep and therefore eat in the cellar.”
Because the house is well insulated, it’s nice and cool down there. Most of the other residents in the area would not have this advantage. The buildings are simpler than in Switzerland. Many people would also live in caravan houses – so-called trailers.
Heat wave makes it possible: Here even a fried egg is frying in the sun(01:00)
Heat continues
A slowdown is currently not in sight. The weather goes this week, stay hot this week, says Barth. For Swiss emigrants, the heat wave also means boredom. Because at these high temperatures there is not much you can do.
After all: Lake Kootenay is very close by. Barth can cool down there if necessary. Since the lake is fed by melt water, it is only 20 degrees – a welcome refreshment.